Interesting books, and news items about books and periodicals, particularly with respect to political and social issues. Since May, 2016, many of my larger book reviews have been put on a hosted Wordpress site; so now this blog emphasizes previews, interviews with authors, booklets, large periodical articles, and literary business issues. Note: no one pays me for these reviews; they are not "endorsements"!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Hazlitt's "The Foundations of Morality" on PDF from FEE now

I wanted to mention the E-book, “The Foundations of Morality”
(2010), by Henry Hazlitt, from the Foundation for Economic Education, at
Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, pdf link here. The book comprises 26 chapters and runs
close to 300 pages including romans.

The author generally is following a libertarian foundation
for morality, and at one point notes that the center of moral behavior is the
ability to hold back on immediate pleasure or gain for the self, for greater
good for both the self and others farther in the future. A lot of it has to do with the cognitive
ability to “see around corners”.

The author seems to discuss utilitarianism, as Bentham
defined it (the way we studied it in high school government class in
1961).

Chapter 14, “The Problem of Self-Sacrifice” will need
careful attention. Hazlitt does not deny
that such an idea as “duty” exists, and that societies generally may rightfully
expect individuals to take personal risks to save or otherwise help others in
some situations. He does not deny that
in exceptional circumstances an ultimate sacrifice can be expected. But “sacrifice” is more likely to be expected
when some greater general good comes from it.
Giving money to panhandlers probably doesn’t qualify. But willingness to work in dangerous
neigjborhoods or take on risky jobs, like police officer or fireman (even as a
volunteer) or in military service, may well be appropriate for many people at
points in their lives. Some risk taking
and exposure to “sacrifice” may give the appearance to others of having “skin
in the game” and make one more credible later when pursuing one’s own
goals. Most of us can’t get anywhere in
life without these experiences at some points. Trump's claim of sacrifice last summer when confronted by Khzir Khan was quite shocking.

Hazlitt seems willing to accept the idea that morality involves a lot more than just answering for one's own deliberate choices.

Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say superb blog! hotmail email sign in

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Since the 1990s I have been very involved with fighting the military "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays in the military, and with First Amendment issues. Best contact is 571-334-6107 (legitimate calls; messages can be left; if not picked up retry; I don't answer when driving) Three other url's: doaskdotell.com, billboushka.com johnwboushka.com Links to my URLs are provided for legitimate content and user navigation purposes only.
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